The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-07
THE CALIFORNIA CRAZE.
A Truthful Editor Shows up the Folly Of
Eastern People.


Eastern People.
Frank Pixley. in San Francisco ArRonaut.
'The real estate dealers of the southern
counties not to be held accountable for the
speculation now raging in town lots and suburban
lands, for it is beyond the prudence and modera-
ton of human nature not to dispose of lands or
stocks or personal property to the excited and
credulous when they stand clamoring for
property at prices beyond its value. One cannot
blame the land and lot owner who has waited
long and patiently in dull cities or unenterpris-
ing towns, nor the owner of lands unproductive
and unremunerative except by the expenditure
of capital and labor when they embrace so good
an opportunity TO dispose of property as has been
presented by the influx of the greedy Eastern
purchaser. These people are fairly tumbling
come owners of groves and vine
yards in southern California Scale-bug and
phvlloxora have no terrors for the Eastern tour
lists; they drink of the vine and eat of the fruit
without dread of pests; they dream of the vine-
clad cottages, covered with roses, in a Towering
orange grove; of orchards of olive, flowing with
fat oils; OF pomegranates, with their rich, red
fluid bursting from their green sides. 1t does
not occur to them that the raising OF fruit is at
tended with labor and costly expenditure; that
one cannot work and live upon pomegranates,
oranges and olive oil, nor upon climate and the
imagination. but that the stomach OF the labor
ing man yearns after ham, side bacon and
corned pork. brought from the East; after coffee
imported from South America; after tea raised
in China or Japan; after sugar brought from
the Sandwich Islands and refined by Sir Edward
Steele; after -four, potatoes, rice and corn; after
clothes-for even the soft and baimy eli
mate of southern California renders clothing
comfortable at all seasons, and at times indis-
pensable that dwellings regarded as neces-
sary for people who have been reared in the in
diligence of the higher luxuries OF civilization;
that fences required for the Enclosure and
protection of crops that barns and corrals are
needed for the housing of stock; that as none of
these things and the Thousand other commodi-
ties indispensable for comfort can be raised in
southern California; they must be imported from
other lands, and must be paid for in such prod
ucts of southern soil as can find some broader
market than the locality in which they are
raised. These considerations do not address
themselves to the man of large wealth and fixed
income who, for his own health and comfort. or
for the pleasure of some invalid loved one, leaves
the rigorous northern home to seek a softer and
more luxurious climate To the man OF fort
une, who. after life of labor seeks retire
ment and ease for the enjoyment of his
wealth. there is no more attractive place in
the world than California, nor any in which
the dolce far niente is enjoyable with more of
ease and dignity To that class of Eastern peo-
pie who come to California with moderate fort
unes, seeking investment in lands upon which
their own labor is to be expended, and upon
which they are to depend for their future sup
port and for the support of their families, there
is no place in California which is not better
suited for them than the counties named. We
are not now addressing ourselves to the wealthy
or speculative. How the rich spend their money
does not concern US. AS to the manner in which
the gambler in lands, or mining stocks, or at the
green cloth acquires his money We are equally
Indifferent. But, when the farmer of Cook or
Carroll county, in Illinois. sells his farm of rich
and productive soil worth 800 per acre at $45.
and purchases land in southern California at $500
per acre, or lots at Pasadena for 81, 900 pei
front foot. we think-and we beg his pardon for
the frank expression of our opinion-we think
him most consummate ass, and when the time
comes that he shall wish himself back upon his
fat acres in Illinois and in the enjoyment of
four seasons. our sympathy will only be reserved
for the wife and children whom his folly ane
greed have robbed